Not yet, anyway. Latest info suggests towards end of April. We wait and see.

Last of the ski flights today - that is it for another season.

Saw a few Ryanair loads for today - very strong. Very encouraging. Who knows, they might even be persuaded a put another aeroplane into Cork? Ha, ha!

To my knowledge it is exactly one month to the introduction of new sids/stars

Open skies effective today.... any takers at cork :O

Fat chance of that! The latest deal between the SAA and EI have put paid to any chance of that now for a few more years.

You have got to hand it to the snn crowd - at least they are pro-active and defend their patch of turf to the hilt. Now, if only there was a level playing field!

Cork said goodbye to Central Wings and Krakow during the week. Another one gone. That is Krakow, Wroclaw, Warsaw and Budapest all gone off the Cork radar since New Year.

Have heard more whinging from folk complaining about Ryanair's lack of presence at Cork for flights to Europe and about the high fares between Cork and CDG. What an opportunity for Ryanair to seek an opening to BVA? Would be at least as viable as some of the ORK-DUB rotations if not better. Certainly seems to be a lot of interest showing for the upcoming Carcassone route.

If the bookings are as good as are reputed it may encourage Ryanair and Cork may see a few more Euro routes from next summer?

Open skies
 

So far Open skies has been a damp sqiub as far as Ireland is concerned with the schedule resembling that of previous pre-open skies years.

I can't see Shannon sustaining 3 year round daily services to New York a 2 to 1 split between Shannon and Cork would be a more natural divide.

Cork-Boston is also possible at least during the Summer months.

No I can't see 3 year round services to New York lasting either, especially given how strong the Euro now is versus the dollar. I fear that the strong Euro coupled with the slow down of the Irish economy and the recession in America may mean that direct US services from Cork are some way off. Perhaps EI could run a service to JFK via either Dublin or Belfast in a similiar vein to the SNN-DUB-ORD routing. If it routed via Dublin it could be used to connect to EI's other long haul routes.
Tom, as has been said before, the axing of Cork-Krakow was part of a huge cull of 14 routes (Shannon-Gdansk was also axed). We still have Cork-Katowice with Wizzair who operate a connecting bus service from Katowice airport to Krakow after every flight. The flight times meant that the Krakow service was used mainly by Poles anyway with few Irish tourists so most of them will just now fly to Katowice and the loss in passengers for Cork will probably be negligeable. This should strengthen the Cork-Katowice service, and perhaps even encourage Wizz to start a Cork-Warsaw service or a Cork-Budapest service (They have bases at Warsaw and Budapest!)

Have heard there is a carrier talking to the CAA about a US service. It is neither a US or Irish carrier..

The best hope for a US flight ex ORK is CO, DL or EI. DL and CO have the right a/c (757), and EI has a base there and strong brand recognition. Maybe ORK-BFS-JFK. I'm sure EI want T/A ex BFS and ORK, but BFS crew cant operate T/A, so a service ex ORK would be a good alternative. 3 New York services ex SNN is a lot, considering BHX has one!!! I'm sure over time, EI wont be soo commited to SNN, especially once most of the 330's are updated, and more carries look at flying ex DUB to the US. With EI keen to start more US routes and an Asian service, flying 330's ex SNN wont be such a priority, and an ORK-BFS-USA route will seem more appealing to serve the West

There is a suggestion from ASU.Cork's posting from 20th March, 2008 that the management at Cork may only want flight operations between 0600 & 0000 - if so, would such a mindset have discouraged Central Wings from staying on at Cork for the Krakow service - they did like to operate some red-eye flights in the wee small hours? I would accept that such early timings would be of only little attraction to outbound Cork weekenders etc. Mind you, the relative closeness of the Wizz Air Katowice destination may have been a factor too in KRK being dropped.

Sure hope that Cork has plans to get Budapest back in the not too distant future - got to be losing out there, it is so galling heading into the summer season without a service.

America, just too many ifs and buts - if snn loses a NYC flight and if EI start transatlantic ex Belfast etc, etc. If anything, it seems to be getting harder for Cork to achieve a U S flight not easier?

Centralwings are notarious for chopping and changing routes.
They've rarely stayed on any route longer than a couple of seasons.
As well as cancelling their Cork services, more than a dozen other routes have been cancelled across the board.
This airline, in general, seems to have muchos problemos, so I'm not too :{ about losing them, but losing their routes is indeed painful.

Our best bet for Warsaw is probably Wizz, as Ryanair aren't too keen on expanding in Cork or Warsaw.
Budapest will surely be replaced sooner or later. Wizz, Aer Lingus and Ryanair all potential contenders.
Wroclaw will probably have to wait for the day when Ryanair significantly expand in Cork.
Krakow will probably also need to wait for this Ryanair d-day, unless Aer Lingus get inspired to operate the route.

Transatlantic ops.
 

"Have heard there is a carrier talking to the CAA about a US service. It is neither a US or Irish carrier.."


Let's hope it isn't a Flyglobespan-type operator!

"A flyglobespan type operator", is it, Gaelgoir?

In comparison to snn's track record Cork has had very few basket case type operators in it's midst down the years. Can the same be said for what has been doled out by snn in order to incentivise other now dead & gone carriers down the years in the midwest?

Latest stunt now for snn and Irish taxpayer's money will be the intended U S Custom & Border Post?

It is some level playing field when snn is nearby to a competitor airfield!

A pathetic but expensive attempt to generate a new stopover era.

I didnt see Gaelgoir mention SNN anywhere Tom!

Can people not hope that ORK gets a decent quality carrier as its first link to the US and not be accused of being pro-stopover and anti-Cork?

Sorry if I missed something here but it seems the willingness to bash SNN actually doesnt need an excuse anymore!

think there's a bit of playing the man not the ball above. gaelgeoir makes a good point - after the Slattery fiasco there will be scepticism unless the new entrant has form.

Cork-US link
 

Anything less than a carrier with brand recognition in both Ireland and US will not be successful. Continental on EWR could be the best bet at this stage but the weakness of the US Dollar is emerging as a major negative.

Red rag?
 

Is it not obvious that my remark was a cautionary one? It certainly didn't merit an attack on SNN's (& DUB's) plans for enhanced CBP facilities which, incidentally, will not be paid for by the Irish taxpayer but by the nasty "D" word- yes, debt raised by the airports involved!

why cant the bfs crew operate T/A?

Cork's Irish Examiner newspaper has a good 2nd April joke today.

It begins with the heading:- Cork - US link "Within 3 years."

The newspaper claims that Cork Airport has been talking to different high profile airlines over the past two years in anticipation of the Open Skies agreement. According to Mr Kevin Cullinane, Cork Airport's Marketing Manager, the airport has been making a strong case to the airlines and that it will secure transatlantic services within the not too distant future. Then it gets even better - they are talking about not one but two North American destinations - to New York and to Boston! Mr Cullinane goes on to say that the U S flight is the big prize that Cork needs to secure! The final comment is interesting. The newspaper says that the airlines Cork has been speaking with will have aircraft available to service North American routes next year.

What is all that about? Is it the 787s that wont be delivered next year to free up 757/767s?

Well, they'll be bonfires burning gaily in the Banner County tonight knowing they can all sleep safely in their beds for another three long years and that Cork has been making a holy show of itself once again.

There can be no doubt about it - Cork Airport and her team are in it for the long haul!

CORK - US flights
 

I'm not sure what is so significant about 3 years! Does talking to refer to the exchange of phone calls, emails or Christmas Cards? I very much doubt if Cork is engaged in any serious negotiations with transatlantic carriers.

Heard that ORK-AGP for winter will shortly be on sale.